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Students play leading role to ensure food security

17 June 2020 | Story Dr WP Wahl

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) prioritises innovation to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition among students. To this end, several student volunteers and student governance structures are collaborating with the DSA on various initiatives.

During 2019, various conversations were held about the possibility of creating a health-promoting food environment at the UFS where students and staff are well informed and empowered to take appropriate action regarding their food and nutritional needs. These conversations resulted in an institutional strategy to address the food environment at the UFS. Student representatives serve on a technical committee that directs the implementation of this strategy. In this regard, several initiatives have already been launched.

Students from residences and other student communities have planted vegetable gardens on the Bloemfontein Campus with the assistance of KovsieACT and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Students and staff are already harvesting and distributing vegetables to needy students every week. Measurements were put in place to continue this during the COVID-19 period. The following vegetables were planted: spinach, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.

Food parcels, donated by Tiger Brands and Gift of the Givers, are continuously handed out by DSA staff and student volunteers. In this regard, 540 food parcels have already been handed out on the Bloemfontein Campus during the COVID-19 period alone. During the same time, 117 students received food parcels on the Qwaqwa Campus. The innovation of this food parcel project rests on the fact that business, NPOs, UFS students, and DSA staff are collaborating to address food insecurity and malnutrition.

More collaborative initiatives will be implemented over the next 12 months. The DSA staff and students are already working with the Department of Dietetics and Consumer Sciences to create information packages about the preparation of low-budget nutritious meals.

News Archive

Ryk Neethling visits the UFS

2011-02-03

Ryk Neethling
- Photo: Gerhard Steenkamp

Festive, colourful and spirited – this was how the official opening of our newly upgraded swimming pool looked. Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling, guest of honour at the event, rendered further glamour to the event when he encouraged Kovsies in his opening speech.

“I feel that this pool can be a great institution of learning, just like this university, because the lessons you learn here you can take into your job; lessons of hard work, dedication and never giving up,” said Ryk.

As a result of the money (R4,6 million) that was appropriated by the National Lotto at the end of 2009, the swimming pool now qualifies as an international competition bath (50m in length) with heating. Overflows were also installed at both ends of the bath. Starting blocks and lane ropes were also installed.

Part of the money is also used for research, which will throw light on the nutritional habits and incidents that cause swimming injuries.

According to Mr Mickey Gordon, Head: Corporate Affairs, Institutional Advancement and Sport, it is strategically important to invest in a high-quality facility for the advancement of swimming at our university. “The university wants to become a centre of excellence for Swimming South Africa,” he said.

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